The Revivalist Make a First-Time Appearance at Pilgrimage

New Orleans based band The Revivalist have performed at various venues in the area including Bonnaroo, 3rd and Lindsley, Live on the Green but on Sunday, this will be a first for the band as they will be performing at Pilgrimage Festival

Since forming in 2007, the seven-piece New Orleans roots-driven rock band logged countless miles on the road, cultivating a high-octane live show and a studio presence equally steeped in instrumental virtuosity and charismatic vocal magnetism. In addition to festivals, the band has performed on Ellen, Kimmel, Today Show and Conan. Members of The Revivalist include: David Shaw [vocals], Zack Feinberg [guitar], Ed Williams [pedal steel guitar], Rob Ingraham [saxophone], George Gekas [bass], Andrew Campanelli [drums], and Michael Girardot [keys, trumpets].

We spoke to Revivalist drummer, Andrew Campanelli who told us how excited the band is to play at Pilgrimage saying, “we’ve played a lot of festivals in the area but it’s great to play for a music community.”

The band has seen chart-topping success with “Wish I Knew You” taking over the Alternative Chart for a number one spot beating out Lorde’s “Green Light” and Paramore’s “Hard Times” earlier this year.

In asking Campanelli if fan favorite “Wish I Knew You” would be part of the band’s playlist on Sunday he told us they don’t make the list until about an hour before showtime but felt pretty certain fans could count on the favorite.

He added fans will hear a little different version of “Wish I Knew You” than what is played on the radio, “live is a little longer and we take the end in a different direction than what you hear on the radio.”

With the band’s steady touring over the last five or six years and playing quite a few festivals, we asked for his one piece of advice for attendees.

“Pick a few main acts you want to see and then float around. You never know what you will hear.”

The Revivalist will join other New Orleans based bands including Trombone Shorty and Better Than Ezra who Campanelli says they’ve met and at one point fans would often mistake their vocalist David Shaw when he had shorter hair for Kevin Griffin from Better than Ezra. Be sure to catch The Revivalist during Pilgrimage Festival on Sunday at 3:35 at the Synchrony Financial Midnight Sun stage.

Donna is one of those former corporate types (Xerox) who wanted to try something new. She went from marketing to blogger and now Style Editor, and is always on the look out for what’s trending in restaurants, new stores, charity events and entertainment. To keep up the pace, Donna is usually found drinking at least one Cold Brew coffee a day or on a busy day make it two.